What is 4/11 - 2/8?

Here's how to subtract 2/8 from 4/11:

4

11

−

2

8

Step 1

We can't subtract two fractions with different denominators. So you need to get a common denominator. To do this, you'll multiply the denominators times each other... but the numerators have to change, too. They get multiplied by the other term's denominator.

So we multiply 4 by 8, and get 32.

Then we multiply 2 by 11, and get 22.

Next we give both terms new denominators -- 11 × 8 = 88.

So now our fractions look like this:

32

88

−

22

88

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can subtract the numerators.

32 − 22 = 10

So the answer is:

10

88

Step 3

Last of all, we need to simplify the fraction, if possible. Can it be reduced to a simpler fraction?

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it: